Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-11-18

Left to himself, Renskaw tried to re-
view more calmly the circumstances in
these strange revelations that had i'm
PEELED him to change his resolution so
suddenly. That the ship was under the
surveillance Of unknown parties, and that
the description of them Tailed with his
own knowledge Of a certain Lascar sailor,
who was one Of Sleight's informants-
seemed to be more than probable. That
this seemed to point to Sleight's disloy-
atty To himself while he was acting as his
agent, or double treachery on the part
of Sleight's informants, was in either case
a reason and an excuse for his own inter-
ference But the connection of the alb
surd Frenchman with the case, which at
first seemed a characteristic imbecility Of
his landlord, bewildered him the more he
thought Of IT, Rejecting any hypothesis
Of the girls affection for the Anticipated
figure whose sanity was question OF
public criticism, he was forced to the
equally alarming theory that Ferrieres
was eognizaut Of the treasure, and that
session Of it by marrying her. Might she
not be dazzled by picture Of this wealth.
Was Is not possible that she was already
In part possession Of the secret, and her
strange attraction 10 the ship, and what
he had deemed her innocent craving for
information concerning IL, q consequence
Why had he not thought Of this before'
Perhaps she had detected his purpose
from the first and had deliberately check
mated him. The thought did not in
crease his complacency as Mott softly re
turned.
ITS all right, he began with a certain
satisfaction in this rare opportunity for
Machiavelian diplomacy, cts all fixed
now. Rosey tumbled to it at once par
tiklerly when | said you was bound to go.
But wot makes Mr. Renshaw go, father
sez she; 'wot makes everybody run away
from the ship seq she, rather peart like
and sassy for her. Mr., Renshaw hez
contractin business SEE l. got a big
thing up in Sacramento that'll make his
FORUM, SCI for wasn't goin' to give
yer away, don't ye see. He had some
business 10 talk to you about the ship
sez she lookin at me under the corner Of
her pocket handkerchief. Lots o. bust
ness SEE l. Then | reckon he don't care
TO hev me write to him, SEE she. Not a
bit, sez l. 'he wouldn't answer ye if We
did. Yen never hear from that chap
agin'. -
''But what the devil'-interrupte the
young man impetuously.
keep yer hair on demonstrated the
old man with dark intelligence. 'Ef you'd
seen the way she fOunced into her state
room!-she, Rosey, ez allus moves ez
softly ez a spirit-you'd hev wished I'd
hev unloaded II little more. No sir, gals
is gals in some things all the time"
Renshaw rose and paced the room
rapidly. Perhaps I'd better speak to
her again before she goes" he said, i'm
pulsively.
"P'r'aps you'd better not, p" replied the
imperturbable Mott.
lrritated as he was, Renshaw could not
avoid the reflection that the old man was
right. What indeed, could he say to her
with his present imperfect knowledge?
How could she write to him If that
knowledge was correct?
"Ef." said Mott, kindly, with laying
on of large benedictory and paternal
hands, "ef yer are willn' to see Rosey
agin. without speakin' to her, | reckon |
ken fix it for yer. I'm goin' to take her
down TO the boat in half an hour IF yer
should happen-mnd, eff yer should hap
pen to be down there, seem some friends
OIL and sorter promenadin up and down
the wharf like them high toned chaps on
Montgomery street-ye might ketch her
thisr He rose after moments cogita-
ton and with face of profound mystery
opened the door and beckoned Renshaw to
follow him. Leading the way cautiously,
he brought the young man into an open
unpartitioned recess beside her state room.
1t seemed to he used as a store room, and
Renshaw's eye was caught by trunk the
size and shape of the one that had pro-
vided Rosey with the materials of her
masquerade Pointing TO it Mr. Mott said
in grave whisper: This yer trunk is
the companion trunk to Rosey's. She's
got the things them opery women wears;
this yer contains the he things, the buds
and fiXin's o the men o the same stripe"
Throwing it open he continued: Now,
Mr.. Renshaw, gals is gals; it's nat'ral
they should be took by fancy dress and
store clothes on young chaps as on their
selves That man Ferrers hez got the
dead wood on all of ye in this sort of
thing, and hez been playing, so to speak,
a lone hand all along. And eff thar 5 any
thin in thar" he added. lifting part of
a theatrical wardrobe. that you think
you'd fancy-anythin' you'd like to put
on when ye promenade the wharf down
yonder-it's yours, Don't ye be bashful,
but help yourself.
1t was fully minute before Renshaw
fairly grasped the old mans meaning.
But when he did--when the suggested
spectacle of himself arrayed n la Ferrieres,
gravely promenading the wharf as n last
gorgeous appeal to the affections of Rosey,
rose before his fancy, he gave way to q
tit of genuine laughter. The nervous
tension OF the past few hours relaxed; he
laughed until the tears came into his eyes;
he was still laughing when the door of
the cabin was suddenly opened and RoSey
appeared cold and distant on the TIRES
hold
'I-beg your pardon stammered Rem
shaw hastily. Il didn't mesn--to dis
turb you'll
Without looking at him Rosey turned
to her father. II am ready" she said
coldly, and closed the door again.
glance of artful intelligence came
into Motifs eyes, which had remained
blankly staring at Renshaw's apparently
causeless hilarity, Turning to him he
wiuked solemnly. THAT keerless kind o.
boss laff jist fetched her he whispered,
and vanished before his chsgrined COM
panion could reply.
When Mr.. Mott and his daughter de-
parted Renshaw WAS not in the ship,
neither did he make a spectacular appear
ance on the wharf as Mr.. Mott had fondly
expected, nor did he turn up again until